Chapter 8 - THE ESTATE TRIAL
The civil trial over Ashwood ownership came first.
Lenora claimed Andrew lacked capacity when he transferred control.
Her attorneys described him as paranoid after Lily’s birth.
They used his emergency systems as proof.
Sarah’s team introduced the financial records.
Lenora’s hidden loans.
Cassandra’s diverted funds.
The false maintenance documents.
The custody plan.
Andrew’s fear no longer looked irrational.
It looked documented.
The key witness was Marcus.
He testified that Andrew created the bunny alert after discovering a draft petition seeking to remove Sarah from Lily’s custody if anything happened to him.
Lenora’s attorney asked:
“Isn’t hiding an emergency button in a child’s toy extreme?”
Marcus answered:
“Not when the threat comes from the people who control the doors.”
The court upheld the trust.
Sarah remained trustee.
Lenora lost management authority permanently.
The estate itself transferred into Ashwood control.
Sarah could have forced Lenora out immediately.
She gave her thirty days.
People called it mercy.
It was not.
It was procedure.
Sarah wanted every action documented.
No secret removals.
No revenge disguised as urgency.
At the criminal trial, Cassandra testified against Lenora in exchange for consideration.
She admitted arranging the payment to the mechanic.
She insisted the goal was delay, not death.
The mechanic’s brother confirmed Cassandra said:
“Make sure the plane does not leave.”
But altered parts showed the sabotage was more dangerous than claimed.
The jury convicted Cassandra of reckless homicide, conspiracy, fraud, and assault.
Lenora was convicted of conspiracy, child abuse, evidence tampering, financial crimes, and solicitation of sabotage.
She was acquitted of intentional murder.
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Sarah accepted the verdict.
Andrew’s death did not need a more dramatic label to matter.
